Folding table



June 8, 1943. s. T.-STACK FOLDING TABLE 2 Filed June 6, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 3, G. 'r. STACK 2,321,328

FOLDING TABLE Filed June 6, 1942- 3 Sheets-Sheet? 7 25 lurenlor B) WW 0 now/0S June 8, 1943. GIST'ACK" 2,321,328

' -FOLDING TABLE Filed June 6. 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Patented 'June 8, 1943 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING TABLE George T. Stack, Portland, Oreg. Application June 6, 1942, Serial No. 446,101

(Grail-s9),

3 Claims.

The present invention relatesto new and useful improvements in folding tables and more particularly to tables used for games, such as table tennis or pingpong, and has for its primary object to provide a table of this character which will present a relatively large top or playing surface and in which foldabl'e legs are provided having their lower ends position-ed inwardly'from the corners of the table whereby topreventthe player from tripping over the legs of the table while the table is in use.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel leg construction for the table by means of which the legs may be folded inwardly against the underside of the table top, when not in use, for storing in a com-- pact space.

A still further object is to provide a table of this character of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, strong and durable, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view showing the table in open position.

Figure 2 is an end elevational viewthereof.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view showing the legs in folded position.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view through one end of the table taken substantially on a line 5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view showing the sectional table top in folded position and with the legs in open position, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side elevational View of one of the pivoted ends of the legs.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numerals 5 and 6 designate a pair of table top sections hingedly connected to each other along one edge as indicated at 1 and arranged for folding the tops of the sections inwardly against each other.

Each of the top sections includes a depending flange 8 or skirt portion extending downwardly from the underside of the top, the lower edge of the flange being bevelled, as shown at 9. Each edge of the table top section is provided with one of the flange members 8 and the flanges disposed at the ends of the table top sections are provided on their opposed faces with recesses 10 within which the ends of a rod l I are pivotally inserted, one of the rods being positioned at each side edge of each table top section 5 and 6.

A triangular-shaped leg l2 has its top edge secured to the rod H by means of screws or the like l3 extending radially into the rod, as shown to advantage in Figure 5 of the drawings. Therod H is disposed immediately adjacent the side flange of the table top section and the outer edge of the top of the leg I2 is bevelled, as shown at M, for abutting the bevelled edge 9 of the flange to limit outward swinging movement of the leg beyond a perpendicular position.

In each corner of the leg I2 is a web l5 forming a brace for the adjacent sides ofthe leg.

To the lowermost web l5 of each leg is attached one end of a sectional brace l6 by means of a hinge H, the sections of the brace ['6 being hingedly connected as at IB and the upper end of the brace is hinged as at I9 to the underside of the adjacent table top section. The hinge I8 is arranged for swinging one section of the brace against the leg, while the other section of the brace swings upwardly against the underside of the table top in a folded position. The braces H5, at the opposite sides of each table top section, are connected by a coil spring 20 yieldably maintaining the braces against folding movement.

The legs I2, at adjacent sides of the table top sections 5 and 6, are connected by a catch member 2| which is pivoted at one end, as at 22, to one of the legs and is provided with a notch 23 adjacent its opposite end for engaging a pin 24 carried by the other leg for connecting the legs to prevent folding movement of the top sections 5 and 6.

As will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 1 of the drawings, the lower corners of the legs, which serve to support the table in its open position, are positioned at the sides of the table inwardly from the corners thereof and accordingly the corners of the table are free from obstruction and will not cause interference with the feet of a player when using the table for playing indoor games such as table tennis, or the like.

By releasing the catch 2|, the table top sections 5 and 6 may be folded inwardly toward each other and into the position shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, and by releasing the braces Hi, the legs l2 may be folded inwardly against the underside of the respective table top sections, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.

To the lower edge of one of the flanges 8, adjacent the hinged edge of the table top section, is secured a pair of rollers 25 preferably having swivel mountings by means of which the folded table top section may be tilted upon the rollers for conveniently moving the table from place to place.

The underside of the table top sections 5 and 6 are also preferably provided with diagonally extending bracing strips 26.

The legs for one of the table sections are formed with a longitudinally rounded edge portion I 2' adjacent the hinged edges of the table sections, said rounded edges being adapted to rock on the surface of the floor during the folding and unfolding of the table to relieve the person of the weight of the table and to facilitate its folding and unfolding movement.

It is believed the details of construction, the manner of use and advantages of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing without further detailed explanation.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is:

1. A folding table comprising a pair of table top sections, means hingedly connecting one edge of the sections together for folding upon each other, triangular-shaped legs at each side of each section, and means pivotally connecting one edge of the legs to said sections for movement into a folded position against the underside of its connected section, the legs of one section having longitudinalh rounded edges adjacent the hinged connection of the table sections to provide rockers for said section during folding and unfolding movement thereof.

2. A folding table comprising a pair of table top sections, means hingedly connecting the sec tions along one edge for folding against each other, a pair of triangular-shaped legs for each section, and a rod secured along one edge of each leg with the ends of the rods journaled in the respective sections of the table for folding the legs upwardly against the underside thereof, the legs of one section having longitudinally rounded edges adjacent the hinged connection of the table sections to provide rockers for said section during folding and unfolding movement thereof.

3. A folding table comprising a pair of table top sections, means hingedly connecting the sections along one edge for folding against each other, a pair of triangular-shaped legs for each section, a rod secured along one edge of each leg with the ends of the rods journaled in the respective sections of the table for folding the legs upwardly against the underside thereof, foldable braces for each leg for securing the legs in an open position, and a catch device connecting the legs of the respective sections for securingxthe sections against folding movement, the legs of one section having longitudinally rounded edges adjacent the hinged connection of the table sections to provide rockers for said section during folding and unfolding movement thereof.

GEORGE T. STACK. 

